Results 25,801-25,820 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, in general, selection competitions within the Irish Civil Service take place by way of: - competitions confined to particular Departments (Internal promotion) or - from competitions open to candidates from all Departments (Interdepartmental promotion) or - from open competitions to all eligible candidates including members of the public. Candidates who are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Expenditure (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As recently outlined in the Summer Economic Statement, between 2008 and 2014 Departmental gross voted expenditure decreased by €8 billion as successive Governments sought to bring the public finances under control, exit the EU-IMF Programme and re-establish market access. Difficult decisions in areas including social welfare, health, capital and public sector pay and pensions...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Recruitment data from the Public Appointments Service and the overall growth in public service numbers indicates that starting pay rates in the Public Service are, in general, market competitive. Moreover analysis of public service pay band data available to the Department shows that some 93% of all public service staff are on salary points in excess of €25,000 per annum. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ Ref: 19514/16 of 5 July.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Meetings (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: While I have not formally met with the Garda Representative Association officials of my Department have participated in all discussions with the Association on the issue of the Lansdowne Road Agreement alongside those of the Department of Justice & Equality.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Net capital issues at the end of June 2016 amounted to €1.148 billion, which falls short by €43m (3.6%) of profiled expenditure of €1.191 billion. The end-June 2016 issues figure compares to €1.054 billion for the same period last year and, therefore, represents an increase of €94 million or 8.9%.   Capital issues to date...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: My role as Minister in the field of pensions relates to issues affecting the civil and public service.  The civil service operates Contributory Pension Schemes which provide benefits to spouses and/or children of deceased scheme members. In summary, when a member dies after retirement, a spouse's pension of up to one-half of the former member's pension is payable.  Dependent...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department is currently reviewing the arrangements that will need to be put in place to respond to the United Kingdom decision to leave the European Union. In advance of the Referendum the Department had engaged in planning for the eventuality that there would be a vote to leave.  In particular, it took part in the work of the Interdepartmental Group on EU/UK relations which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the total amount spent on external consultancy reports commissioned by my Department since 2011. Name of Report Costs Date or Expected Date of Publication Name of External Consultant Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement €35,819 June 2011 MKO Partners Ltd Report on Reasons...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines photography costs incurred by my Department since 2011.  I can confirm that the engagement of service providers by my Department operates within the parameters of value for money and where possible every effort is made to minimise costs.  In line with stated Government policy, all public bodies must use a competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question the services of a public relations firm have not been engaged by my Department since its formation in 2011.

Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 36 to 38, inclusive, 49, 51 and 52 together. For the majority of public servants, the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road agreement. There are,...

Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In respect of Deputy Durkan's question about how we can engage with unions outside the Lansdowne Road agreement, the Minister for Education and Skills and his Department have carried out significant work to gain the TUI's agreement to enter the Lansdowne Road agreement. The Minister has made very clear, as have I, that we will engage with unions who are outside the Lansdowne Road agreement...

Other Questions: Government Expenditure (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not missing any point. I welcome that the Deputy has at least acknowledged that we are planning to increase capital expenditure. Four to five billion euro is not a small amount of money. It is an increase of 18% on the €27 billion already provided for additional schools and hospitals, to maintain the roads we have constructed and to provide new transport projects where...

Other Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As I indicated earlier in response to another question, my Department is represented on the interdepartmental group on EU-UK relations which was convened by the Taoiseach in advance of the UK referendum on EU membership. Therefore, my Department contributed to the risk assessment conducted by the Department of the Taoiseach in advance of the referendum. This was included in the Department's...

Other Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We had a discussion on this point at the plenary session of the North-South Minister Council which took place earlier in the week. I will meet with Deputy Doherty's colleague in the Northern Ireland Executive, the Minister for Finance, tomorrow to discuss this issue. The INTERREG and PEACE programmes provide co-funding for infrastructure projects in this country, including across the...

Other Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I cannot help but wonder whether this is the European Union that Sinn Féin during all of its existence has campaigned against.

Other Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Sinn Féin party campaigned for a "No" vote on the Lisbon and Nice treaties.

Other Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Doherty's colleague, a Sinn Féin MEP, recently said that the economic and fiscal policies of the European Union had had catastrophic affects on the lives of many of its citizens.

Other Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (6 Jul 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: This is the same European Union from which Deputy Doherty was lamenting, and was correct to lament, the exit of the United Kingdom. Deputy Doherty and his colleagues have campaigned against the European Union and the treaties of the EU for many decades. As I stated, the European Union has made a big contribution to the kind of projects that we all care about.